Dispenser closure and container



Nov. 16, 1965 G. M. DAvls 3,217,949

DISPENSER CLOSURE AND CONTAINER Filed April 10) 1964 INVENTOR GEORGE M. DAVIS H IS ATTORNEYS.

United States Patent' O 3,217,949 DISPENSER CLOSURE AND CONTAINER George M. Davis, Rochester, N.Y., assigner to DygertSz Stone, Inc., Rochester, NX., a corporation of New York Filed Apr. 10, 1964, Ser. No. 358,752 14 Claims. (CL 222-480) This invention relates to a container and a .dispenser closure member, and particularly to aclosed container openable at the top and carrying a closure member that is adapted for placement over the opened top for dispensing the contents of the container.

The container and closure member of the present invention can be adapted to many purposes and are not limited to any particular type of container or` to containers used for a particular purpose. However, the invention is well suited to the packaging and dispensing of spices and will be described in relation to such use, although it should be understood that other uses, and containers for other purposes are within the yspirit and scope of the invention;

Condiment or spice containers in the past have been made of metal and have been both expensive to `manufacture and inconvenient to open and use. In previous spice containers a dispensing aperture was partially cut out in the metal top, and the user was required to punch out this aperture with a spoon. Because of such a partial cut out, previous `spice containers were not tightly sealed and some of the aroma or fragrance of the spices in the containers escaped between the time ofpackaging and the time of purchase by the user.

A metal slide was provided on previous spice cans for covering or uncovering the dispensing aperture. Such a slide was inconvenient `to operate, expensive to manufacture, required assembly of a separate part in thermaking of the complete container, and did not closely cover the dispensing apertures so as to prevent loss of spice fragrance during the period of use of the container.

It is an object of this invention to overcome these deiiciencies in previous spice containers and to provide an improved spice container` and dispenser closure member that is economical to manufacture, convenient to use, and` effective in sealing in and preserving the fragrance of packaged spices.

Another object of the invention is to use economical material in making a lightweight spice container that seals and protects packaged spices and that has a dispenser closure member that is disposable with the container and yet rugged, convenient, functional, attractive, economical, t

and effective in closing Vdispenser apertures as well as in dispensing spices.

Another object of the invention is to package spices in closely sealed `paper or cardboard containers, and to pro vide a disposable dispenser closure member with each container for closing off and dispensing the contents from the container after the container is torn `open by the user.

Another object of the invention is to mold `in one-piece a plastic closure member for a spice container that is openable by the user.

Another object of the invention is to package spices in a container having two closure structures one'of which seals the container until it reaches the consumer, such` sealing closure being destroyed when the container isV Other objects of the invention will be apparent hereinr after from the specification and from the recital of the appended claims. To these and other ends, the invention resides in certain improvements and combinations of` FIG. 2 taken "along the line 44-4; such base portion being carried on a sealed spice container also shown in cross section;

FIG. 5 shows the cover ap as sectioned for FIG. 3- secured to the base portion as sectioned in FIG. 4 to form a complete dispenser closure which is fixed to an`opened` spice container; and

FIG. 6 shows an exploded view of `a spice container, the top removed from the container, and a dispenser closure for the container according to"the invention.

Generally, the invention resides in a spice container of rendable material such as cardboard or paper "that is` torn open by the user. and a dispenser closure member that is carried on the container before openingand `is fixed over the opening in the container for closing the opening and dispensing spices.

The container or box 10 shown in FIGS. 446 is preferably formed of paper or cardboard, but can be formed of other materials that are manually rendable so that an opening can be rnade such as by manually tearing the container 10 `along a line of weakness. Container 10 is adapted to cooperate with dispenser closure 12 as will be described hereinafter. Otherwise container 10 is 'a simple box made in any of a number of well known ways. Itis preferably tightly sealedfor preserving the fragrance of spices and is rugged enough to withstand normal spice container handling.

The dispenser closure member 12 will be described briefly and then the cooperation between container 10 and dispenserclosure 12 will be described.`

Dispenser closure 12 is formed ofa base portion 13 shown in FIG. 2 and a cover ap portion 14 shown in FIG. 1 and having integrally hinged aps 19 and 20. As shown in FIGS. 5 `and 6, cover flap portion 14 is secured to base portionv 13 to form the complete dispenser closure Cover flap portion l14y together with base portion 13 can be molded in a single piece of any of a variety of moldable or plastic rnaterials. A preferred material for one piece molding of dispenser closure 12 is polypropylene because of its ability to form a thin hinge connection that can berrepeatedly bent or iiexed without breaking or cracking. In a preferred rnethodofmolding dispenser closure 12, cover flap portion 14 is molded alongside base` portion 13 and connected to basefportion` 13 byathin,` longitudinal hinge, After molding, cover flap portion 14 r is folded over base portion13 and secured to the latter by` forcing deformable projections 15 -of cover ap portion 14 through apertures 16 in base portion 13 for a snap iit best illustrated in the cross section view of FIG. 5. Cover flap portion 14 couldalso be cemented-or fused `to `base portion 13. After cover flap portion 14 is secured to base portion 13, the thin hinge connecting them is broken to allow movement of flaps 19 and 20. This can be done soon after the molding operation during the manufacture of the dispenser closure lor can be left to the ultimate user to accomplish. The longitudinal hinge connecting cover flap portion 14 and base portion 13 can be thin enough" so that it is broken when cover flaps 19 and 20 are manually raised from base` portion 13.

As shown in FIG. 2, base portion 13 preferably has two sets of dispensing apertures. Through one set of dispensing apertures 17 small quantities of condiment can be shaken or sprinkled from container 10, and larger aperture 18, having a generally semi-circular configuration, allows insertion of a spoon into container for removing spices by the spoonful.

Cover flap portion 14 is preferably divided into two resiliently hinged aps 19 and 20 for respectively covering each set of dispensing apertures 17 and 18. Recesses or indents 39 in base portion 13 enable the user to easily grip the outer edges of the flaps to raise them up. Flap 19 has projections 21 corresponding to apertures 17 and arranged so that when ap 19 is in its closed position, projections 21 extend into and engage the peripheries of apertures 17. The engagement of aperture 17 by projections 21 serves to hold flap 19 in its closed position, to seal the openings 17 for preserving the fragrance of the packaged spices, to prevent the clogging of aperture 17 by spices in the container, and to clean out any spices lodged in apertures 17. For the same purposes, flap has a projection 22 configured to correspond to aperture 18 and arranged for snugly tting aperture 18 when Hap 20 is closed.

As shown in FIGS. l, 3 and l5, cover ap portion 14 is made thin along lines 23 so that flaps 19 and 20 are movable in a pivotal or hinged manner with thinned porti-ons 23 acting as a resilient hinges. Other hinging arrangements and orientations are possible, but the illustrated thin hinge of polypropylene is preferred for its economy of manufacture and servicability.

In the llustrated preferred form of the invention, dispenser closure 12 is carried on an unopened container 10 so it will be available for use when the container is opened. After opening of the container 10, the dispenser closure 12 is adapted to be fitted to the container 10 so as to close the opening and to dispense spices from the container.

Dispenser closure 12 is carried on container 10 preferably by being snugly iitted over an end of the container 10. This is accomplished by the base portion 13 having downwardly extending end and side walls 24 and 25 respectively engaging the upright end and side panels of box 10. This position is illustrated in FIG. 4 where it can be seen that dispenser closure 12 is removable from box 10 by sliding base portion 13 olf the end of box 10.

As indicated in the explosion view of FIG. 6, dispenser closure 12 is carried on the openable top of container 10.

This is preferred over carrying dispenser closure 12 on the bottom or side of container 10, because in the top position, dispenser closure 12 helps seal container 10 and protect top 11 which has lines of weakness to facilitate its removal. Of c-ourse, if dispenser closure 12 is carried at the top of container 10, it must be removed for opening the container.

Container 10 is formed so as to have a removable top 11 and to cooperate with dispenser closure 12 f-or holding closure 12 securely in place over the open end of container 10. As best shown in FIG. 6, panels 34, 35, 29, and 30, all integral with side panel 28 of container 10, are folded over the top of container 10 to participate in the cl-osure thereof. Of the folded over panels, downwardly extending tabs 29 are glued to the insides of end panels 26 and a downwardly extending tab 30 is glued to the inside of side panel 27. By such an arrangement, a single piece of material covers the entire top of box 10 and is securely fastened to the upright walls of box 10 around the entire periphery of the top 11. The top covering panels 34 and 35 are separated by a line of weakness 31 around panel portion 34 and along which panel 34 can be torn from panel 35.

The top closure of container 10 is completed by folding an extension panel portion 11 of panel 27 over panels 34 and 35 and glueing panel 11 only to panel 34 in the area within the line of weakness 31 so as to leave a glue free margin or lip 35 around the periphery of the top of container 10. The folded over panel 11 has a gripping tab 32 by which it can be torn away. To facilitate removal of panel 11 from box 10 it is preferred that it be connected to panel 27 along a line of weakness 33. Since panel 11 is adhered only to panel 34 within the line of weakness 31, tear out panel 34 is removed along with panel 11.

The remainder of box 10 can be constructed in conventional ways. In the illustrated embodiment end panels 26 are formed of overlapped and glued together panels. The bottom closure can be similar to the top closure with the omission of the lines of weakness, or can be any suitable, strong, and tightly closed bottom closure folding arrangement.

To open the top of container 10, the consumer grips tab 32 of panel 11 and pulls panel 11 back in a tearing motion which removes panel 11 and tear out panel 34, panel 11 finally being separated from box 10 by tearing along the line of weakness 33. With top 11 removed as shown in FIG. 6, box 10 has an aperture inside the line of weakness 31 and a peripheral lip portion 35 extending inward from the edges of the box.

Base portion 13 cooperates with the inward extending lip 35 remaining around the opened top of container 10 so as to x dispenser closure 12 in place over the top of container 10. Inside the hollow base portion 13 and closely spaced from walls 24 and 25 are downwardly extending sleeves or flanges 36 each preferably having a hook portion 37. Flanges 36 abut against the top 11 of container 10 when base portion 13 is tted over container 10 before opening thereof in the position illustrated in FIG. 4. After opening the top of container 10, dispenser closure 12 is replaced and pressed further onto box 10 to the position illustrated in FIG. 5.

Downwardly extending sleeves 36 are closely spaced from end walls 24 and side walls 25 of base portion 13 so as to define narrow slots 38 for receiving the upper edges of vertical panels 26-28 and lips 35. As base portion 13 is pressed downward over the opened top of container 10, lips 35 are bent downward and forced into slots 38 along with the upper edges of the upright panels of the box 10. Lips 35 are somewhat shorter than downward extending sleeves 36 so that they can be inserted into slot 38 beyond hooks 37. In such position the natural resiliency of lips 35 urges them over hooks 37 and against sleeves 36 so as to interlock with hooks 37. In such relation, base portion 13 is firmly secured to box 10 and cannot easily or accidentally be removed during dispensing of spices.

The securing of dispenser closure 12 to box 10 by the illustrated preferred structure is strong enough so that container 10 can be vigorously shaken or scraped with a |spoon without being removed from container 10. The retaining of lips 35 in slots 38, in addition to making a secure lit, effectively seals the joint between base portion 13 and the walls of container 10 to preserve the spices in container 10.

Box panel arrangements other than those illustrated are possible for providing lips 35 engageable by flanges 36 and hooks 37 for securing dispenser closure 12 to container 10, and the invention is not limited to any particular panel configuration. Other arrangements can be made for securing a dispenser closure to the open top of a box, and cylindrical boxes and containers of a variety of shapes, can be used in cooperation with a dispenser closure member.

It will be seen from the above description that the illustrated embodiment accomplishes the objects of the invention. A great saving is possible over previous metal spice cans in forming container 10 of paper or cardboard, and the disadvantages of an all paper dispenser closure for such a container are overcome by applicants plastic dispenser closure that is conveniently carried on the container for use when the container is opened. Apart from the advantages of reduced manufacturing costs and convenience to the user, container 10 is lighter in weight and in its unopened condition provides a much tighter seal thus better preserving packaged spices.

While the invention has been disclosed herein by reference to the details of a preferred embodiment thereof, it is to be understood that such disclosure is intended in an illustrative, rather than a limiting sense, and it is contemplated that various modifications in the construction and arrangement of the parts will readily occur to those skilled in the art, within the spirit of the invention and the scope of the appended claims.

I claim:

1. A condiment package comprising: a closed container of manually rendable material having a line of Weakness around the top thereof disposed so that said top can be torn away leaving an inwardly extending lip of the material of said container around the periphery of said top; and a closure member formed of molded plastic and configured so as to fit snugly and removably over the unopened top of said container, said closure member having downwardly extending flange means disposed for engaging the inside walls of said container and for forcing said lip of material downward upon forcing of said closure member over the open top of said container so as to hold said closure member in place over said open top of said container, said yclosure member having an aperture for allowing dispensing of the contents of said container and having a resiliently hinged flap for covering said aperture.

2. The combination of claim 1 wherein said downwardly extending flange means are hook shaped for engaging the downturned edges of said lip of material to prevent removal of said closure member from said opened container.

3. A condiment package comprising: a closed container of manually rendable material having a line of weakness around the top thereof disposed so that said top can be torn away leaving an inwardly extending lip of the material of said container around the periphery of said top; and a closure member formed of molded platsic and having a downwardly extending wall adapted to fit snugly in a first position over the unopened top of said container, said closure member being removable from said first position, said closure member having a flange closely spaced from the inside of said wall and extending downward for a distance less than said downward extension of said wall, said flange being disposed for forcing said lip of material downward upon forcing of said closure member over the open top of said container and for engaging said lip of material and the inside surfaces of said container for holding said closure member in place over said open top of said container, said closure member having an aperture for allowing dispensing of the contents of said container and having a resiliently hinged flap for covering said aperture.

4. The combination of claim 3 wherein said flange has an outward extending ridge at the bottom thereof for engaging the downturned edge of said lip of material in a hook relation.

5. A dispenser-closure member formed of molded plastic for mounting over the open top of a container, said member having a body portion configured to define a generally planar surface having apertures for dispensing the contents of said container and extending across the top of said container, said planar surface being united with a downwardly extending flange portion configured to define a peripheral slot for receiving the upper edges of upright walls of said container, said flange portion being adapted for engaging said walls to retain said closure member in place over the open top of said container, a cover portion united with said body portion and having a hinged flap for covering and uncovering said apertures, and a plurality of projections on said flap corresponding to said apertures and adapted for extending into said apertures in the closed position of said flap to hold said flap in said closed position and to keep said apertures free of the contents of said container.

6. A dispenser-closure member formed of molded plastic for mounting over the top of a container, said member having a body portion configured to define a generally planar surface having apertures for dispensing the contents of said container and extending across the top of said container, said planar surface being united with a downwardly extending flange portion configured to define a peripheral slot for receiving the upper edges of upright walls of said container, said flange portion being adapted for engaging said walls to retain said closure member in place over the open top of said container', a cover portion united with said body portion and having a hinged flap for covering and uncovering said apertures, said closure member being adapted to be releasably fit over the top end of said container in a first position before opening of said container, and said closure member being adapted to be fixed in a second position over the open top of said container.

7. A dispenser-closure member formed of molded plastic for mounting over the open top of a container, said member having a body portion configured to define a generally planar surface having apertures for dispensing the contents of said container and extending across said top of said container, said planar surface being united with a downwardly extending flange portion having a spaced apart inner and outer wall around the periphery of said planar surface, said outer wall being adapted to engage the outside of said container to retain said closure member on said container, said inner wall extending downward from said planar surface a distance less than said. outer wall, the lower edge of said inner wall being adapted to engage a wall of said container before said container is opened, said inner and outer walls being adapted to receive therebetween and engage a portion of a wall of said container around said open top, and a movable cover portion united with said body portion and adapted for covering and uncovering said apertures.

8. The closure member of claim 7 adapted to be releasably fit over the top end of said container in a first position before opening of said container top and being adapted to be fixed in a second, relatively lower position over said open top of said container after said container is opened.

9. The closure member of claim 7 wherein said inner wall has an outwardly extending ridge at the bottom thereof for engaging a downturned edge of the material of the walls of said container adjacent said open top.

10. A condiment package comprising: a closed container openable at the top thereof; a lip of the material of said container extending inwardly around the periphery of said opened top; a closure member formed of molded plastic and configured to fit snugly and removably over the unopened top end of said container; a downwardly extending outer wall of said closure member disposed for engaging the outside of said container; a downwardly extending flange means of said closure member spaced from said outer wall and disposed for engaging the inside of the walls of said container and for forcing said lip of material downward upon forcing of said closure member over the open top of said container so as to hold said closure member in place over said open top of said container; said closure member having an aperture for allowing dispensing of the contents of said container; and a movable cover means arranged on said closure member for covering and uncovering said aperture.

11. The condiment package of claim 10 wherein said downwardly extending flange means are hook shaped for engaging the downturned edges of said lip of material to prevent removal of said closure member from said opened container.

12. The condiment package of claim 10` wherein in a first position of said closure member, the bottom edge of said flange means is adapted to engage said unopened top and said outer wall engages said outside of said container and in a second position of said closure member, said outer wall engages said outside of said container and said flange means engages said lip and said insides of said container Walls.

13. A condiment container comprising in combination: a closed container manually openable at thel top thereof; a lip of material integral with the walls of said container and extending inwardly around the periphery of said opened top; a molded plastic closure member adapted to be removably carried on said container in a first position before opening of said container and adapted to be fixed on said container over said opened top in a second position in which said closure member is disposed over said opened top; said closure member having an aperture for allowing Vthe dispensing of the contents .of lsaid container; a movsecuring said closure member in said first position; an inner 20 ange means spaced from said outer wall around the inside of said closure member and extending downward a distance less than said outer wall; and said outer wall and 8 said flange means being adapted to receive uprightfwall portions of said container therebetween, so that said inwardly extending lip of material is depressed downward and engaged by said iiange means for securing said closure member in said second position.

14. The container of claim 13 wherein said downwardly extending liange means are hook shaped for engaging downturned edges of said lip of material to prevent removal of said closure member from said opened container.

References Cited by the Examiner UNITED STATES PATENTS 2,030,134 2/1936 Burgener 222-545 X 2,628,761 2/1953 Yancey 222-541 X 2,886,218 5/1959 Marcus 222-556 X 3,144,180 8/1964 Phillips et al. 222-480 3,155,285 11/1964 Van Baarn 222-480 X M. HENSON WOOD, IR., Primary Examiner.

LOUIS J. DEMBO, Examiner. 

1. A CONDIMENT PACKAGE COMPRISING: A CLOSED CONTAINER OF MANUALLY RENDABLE MATERIAL HAVING A LINE OF WEAKNESS AROUND THE TOP THEREOF DISPOSED SO THAT SAID TOP CAN BE TORN AWAY LEAVING AN INWARDLY EXTENDING LIP OF THE MATERIAL OF SAID CONTAINER AROUND THE PERIPHERY OF SAID TOP; AND A CLOSURE MEMBER FORMED OF MOLDED PLASTIC AND CONFIGURED SO AS TO FIT SNUGLY AND REMOVABLY OVER THE UNOPENED TOP OF SAID CONTAINER, SAID CLOSURE MEMBER HAVING DOWNWARDLY EXTENDING FLANGE MEANS DISPOSED FOR ENGAGING THE INSIDE WALLS OF SAID CONTAINER AND FOR FORCING SAID LIP OF MATERIAL DOWNWARD UPON FORCING OF SAID CLOSURE MEMBER OVER THE OPEN TOP OF SAID CONTAINER SO AS TO HOLD SAID CLOSURE MEMBER IN PLACE OVER SAID OPEN TOP OF SAID CONTAINER, SAID CLOSURE MEMBER HAVING AN APERTURE FOR ALLOWING DISPENSING OF THE CONTENTS OF SAID CONTAINER AND HAVING A RESILIENTLY HINGED FLAP FOR COVERING SAID APERTURE. 